On the surface, I might look like Valentine’s version of Scrooge: I’m the one rolling my eyes when boxed chocolates appear on store shelves before Christmas ornaments have made it to the sale rack, the one shaking my head at this blatant commercialization of romance. To me, it’s always felt like Hallmark invented Valentine’s Day—even…
Grade You, Change You: 4 Steps to Seeing It Through
Have you ever had thoughts like these? “I should really improve my response to his behavior” “I’d love to change my reactions in these types of situations” “I wish my actions were much more X” If so, congratulations. These thoughts show that you want to be proactive instead of passive about how you act and…
One Essential Leadership Lesson of Martin Luther King
Too often, we let holidays come and go without really commemorating anything, and MLK Day is no exception. Many of us see this Monday off simply as a break for the kids or an opportunity for a quick ski trip. But Martin Luther King Jr. was a great leader, and one well worth remembering. So…
7 Tips for Making Resolutions Reality
Let’s face it: resolutions have become somewhat of a world-wide joke. It’s estimated that we break 50% of these commitments by February and 92% by year’s end. Still, there’s an appealing air of possibility about new beginnings. So time and again, we ignore the 8% success rate and ring in the year by selecting yet…
Accountability Partnering 201: 4 Tips for Choosing Your Partner
Recently, I wrote a post outlining the concept of accountability partnering—a powerful tool for achieving your personal goals. In that post, I made some suggestions for accountability success, but none of those tips will get you far without the right partner. In choosing the best person for helping you achieve each goal, consider these 4…
Shopping for Engagement: Cyber Monday’s Management Lessons
For decades, Black Friday has been a hot media topic every November. The biggest shopping day of the year has evolved into a weekend of jaw-dropping sales, shoppers camped out in sleeping bags, and crowds shoving their way to deeply discounted wares. I won’t even go there. But what about Cyber Monday, Black Friday’s younger…